Pulitzer: The Leaked Fiction Memos

It was a great year for fiction. After carefully reading hundreds of novels, it is an honor to present you the 2012 candidates for fiction: David Foster Wallace’s “The Pale King,” Karen Russell’s “Swamplandia!,” and Denis Johnson’s “Train Dreams.” This has been a very difficult and painstaking process, as it no doubt will be for you to select the winner. But there is no group of readers more qualified for the job.

With best wishes,

The Pulitzer Jury

**To: Pulitzer BoardFrom: Pulitzer Board ChiefSubject: **

Great meeting today, guys. Don’t forget to read the fiction candidates. Vote is in three weeks, on the 5th. Mark your calendars. Everyone got that?

**To: Pulitzer BoardFrom: Board Member No. 2Re: **

Aye aye, cap’n!

Three weeks later.

To: Pulitzer BoardFrom: Pulitzer Board ChiefSubject: Fiction!

How are we progressing in the fiction category?

To: Pulitzer Board ChiefFrom: Board Member No. 1Subject: re: Fiction!

I think we need more time. These things are like a HUNDRED pages long.

To: Pulitzer BoardFrom: Pulitzer Board ChiefSubject: re: re: Fiction!

O.K., two more weeks. No more, though. We’re already cutting it close.

Off topic… there’s this kick-ass app thingy that tells you what your spirit animal is, and then it turns out to be a celebrity from the eighties. Kind of silly but also kind of spot on. Takes a few minutes but totally worth it.

Gchat from Pulitzer Board Member No. 5 to No. 6:

No. 6 to No. 5: I have a lunch with you-know-who. He wants to talk about “my feelings on the fiction category.”

No. 6 to No. 5: Ugh. That guy is always trying to peer pressure me into high-fiving in public.

No. 5 to No. 6: I know! Me too!! Just tell him that you have something and then we’ll

No. 6 to No. 5: …go to the Apple store? Great idea.

No. 5 to No. 6: Fo shiz

A week passes.

Tweet from Pulitzer Board Member No. 7:

reading #hungergames while waiting on line all day for tonight’s midnight sneak preview—brought olives…that’s whatz up!!

Whassup Pulitzeritos! Do not forget the big event: Mad Men season premiere/costume party/blitzkrieg/whatnot, courtesy of @JosephPulitzer. P.S. we prob should make a decision on that fiction thing soonish.